The Bafana Bafana coach, Hugo Broos, has trimmed his squad for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Nigeria and Zimbabwe.

Broos has cut 13 players from the squad to trim it down to 23.

The Burnley forward Lyle Foster is back in the squad after missing out on the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, while Percy Tau has also survived the cut.

The former Kaizer Chiefs centre-back, Siyabonga Ngezana, is back in the setup for the first time in six years after previously playing in just two games for Bafana.

Bafana will be heading to Nigeria with a charter flight and Broos said this will be important to keep the team fresh especially with a short turnaround between the two games.

“It is very important that we are travelling by charter,” he said.

“You can spend two days travelling. You leave on Wednesday and arrive on Thursday night, it’s terrible.

“We did it two years ago against Ethiopia, we won here against Ethiopia, but we ran after the ball, we didn’t touch the ball and we won it. But we could have lost that game because the players were exhausted.

“We could not to repeat that again and SAFA did a very big effort to have that charter. I’m very happy with it. So now we will fly to Lagos, from Lagos to Uyo, done.

“Ok, the flight will not be two or three hours, but it’s only Lagos and we are finished. This is what I wanted and again, I’m very happy that we could achieve it.”

Bafana will face Nigeria on 7 June in Uyo, while four days later they will be up against Zimbabwe in Bloemfontein.

Bafana Bafana 23-man squad:

Goalkeepers - Ronwen Williams (captain), Ricardo Goss, Veli Mothwa

Defenders - Sydney Mobbie, Khuliso Mudau, Siyabonga Ngezana, Nkosinathi Sibisi, Mothobi Mvala, Grant Kekana, Thapelo Morena, Aubrey Modiba, Thabo Moloisane

Midfielders - Teboho Mokoena, Jayden Adams, Bathusi Aubaas, Sphephelo Sithole

Forwards - Themba Zwane, Oswin Appollis, Patrick Maswanganyi, Iqraam Rayners, Percy Tau, Relebohile Mofokeng, Elias Mokwena

Morgan Piek OFM Sport